The Council for the Rural Area (RLG)

Raad voor het Landelijk Gebied

Raad voor het Landelijk Gebied (RLG)
Visitors' address:
Catharijnesingel 53
3511 GC Utrecht
Postal Address:
PO Box 1331
3500 BH Utrecht
The Netherlands
Tel. +31 30 230 78 70
Fax +31 231 06 72
raad.landelijk.gebied@minlnv.nl
www.rlg.nl

Current and Future Activities

Establishment and Mission

Council Members and Staff Members

Working Style

List of Selected Publications 


Current and Future Activities

Present Priority Fields

The Council for Rural Area is working on the following advisory topics:

 

Former priorities

2008 the RLG had the following priorities:

For even earlier priorities, see the following links:

Priorities and advisory programme 2007

Priorities and advisory programme 2006

Priorities and advisory programme 2005

Previous priorities and advisory programme 2004

Previous priorities and advisory programmes 2002-2003

Previous priorities and advisory programmes 2000-2001

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Background

Establishment

The Advisory Council for the Rural Area (RLG) was statutorily set up by the Law on the Council for the Rural Area in combination with the Framework Law on Advisory Councils, and is one of the broadly based advisory councils in the advisory system of the Dutch Government. The Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries established this Council in 1997. Independent advisory bodies have a solid basis in the Netherlands, as the Constitution stipulates that the government must take advice from independent advisory bodies.

The RLG was set up on 28 January 1997, by the Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries.

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Mission

The Council advises the Dutch Government and both Chambers of Parliament on strategic policy questions concerning the rural area, nature, agriculture and food quality. Considering this advisory task, the Council intends to take the concept of rural area broadly. The RLG's advice is also focused on nature, recreation and businesses connected with agriculture in and around urban areas.

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Council members

The RLG has 11 Council Members. The law prescribes that its members must be independent and that they must be appointed on the basis of their expertise in the sphere of activity for which the Council was established, and for their knowledge and their experience in society and governance. The Queen appoints new members of the council on advice by the Minister of Agriculture. The members are appointed for four years and can be re-appointed twice. Their term will end in 2010.

Chairman
 Prof. Peter van Wijmen

Professor Nature Conservation Law, University of Tilburg
Ben van Essen Sociologist
Koos Koolen Independent advisor
Jannie Lamberts Dairy Cattle farmer 
Marjan Margadant-van Arcken Philosopher, Pedagogue
Tracy Metz Writer, journalist
Marijke van Schendelen Freelance advisor on land planning development
Huib Silvis Economist
Frans Tielrooij Politician
Mark van Twist Management Consultant
Kees Jan de Vet Mayor of Leisden

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Staff Members

The Council has a secretariat with around 12 staff. Hans van der Kooi is the Secretary-General.

Work Style

Tasks of the Council

The Council seeks to give independent, solid and compact advice on strategic issues for the medium and long term that matches the policy agenda; independent advice that offer policymakers perspectives and that stimulate societal discussions and public debate.

The advisory reports are accomplished in an open consultation process. For every advisory project the Council composes a working group of Council members supplemented by external experts. This group, supported by one or two staff members, prepares the advice. In this, the Council applies various forms of external consultation. The Council's staff plays an important role in organising and co-ordinating these activities, and in fitting and integrating the results in the advice.

The Council consists of 11 independent members, chosen because of their specific experience and expertise built up within science, through practical experience within societal organizations and/or administrative background.

The Council develops its annual advisory programme in consultation with the department. The advisory programme has been approved by the government. The Council is free to add important issues but is expected to inform the minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality about these new issues.

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Council Meetings

The Council meets every third Thursday of the month, ten times per year. At the end of this year (2008) the meetings are scheduled for:  November 20 and December 11.

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Type of Advice

The Advisory Programme of the council contains issues formulated by the government or by own initiative of the council.

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Activities in the EEAC Network

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List of Selected Publications

Not all the advisory reports have an English summary. The data below reach back, furthermore, to 2001 only. For a full list of reports and publications, see www.rlg.nl.

Copyright © 2000-2008 by European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils, Den Haag. All Rights Reserved.
Last update: 4 November 2008